The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental has stepped up target hardening measures in the wake of the heightened nationwide security alert.
On Friday, the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office (NORPPO), headed by Acting Provincial Police Director, Sr. Supt. Henry Biñas, deployed police forces to the field to secure the airport and the seaport in the capital, Dumaguete City.
Sr. Supt. Biñas disclosed that Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, PNP Regional Office 18 (Negros Island Region) director, gave him instructions to implement security measures in compliance with the nationwide Alert Level 3 status.
Mobile checkpoints were also immediately set up at strategic locations in Dumaguete as well as visibility patrols in shopping malls, department stores and other places of convergence, according to Biñas.
Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) teams and bomb squads were also deployed to conduct inspection of these places as the provincial police director also personally inspected some areas, such as the city port.
According to Biñas, he has also instructed the police chiefs, especially in the component cities of Negros Oriental, to also undertake similar security measures.
The PNP Chief, Director General Ronald de la Rosa, on Thursday had placed the country under Terror Alert Level 3 following the foiled bomb attack at the United States Embassy in Manila a day earlier.
At least two people suspects, believed to have linkages to the ISIS, are now in the custody of the police after an IED (improvised explosive device) was found at the vicinity of the US Embassy in Manila.
Sr. Supt. Biñas has reiterated his appeal for public cooperation and report immediately to the police the presence of suspicious persons in their local communities.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Group Maritime Safety and Security of Negros Oriental has finalized its “Oplan Kontra-Dukot” anti-terror threat contingency plan in the wake of reported potential terrorist and kidnap-for-ransom activities in the Visayas.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo sits as chairman of the task group while Lt. Junior Grade Donna Liza Ramacho, Coast Guard Dumaguete Station commander, was named the task group commander.
Lt. Junior Grade Ramacho disclosed Thursday that “Oplan Kontra-Dukot” (or Oplan Anti-Kidnapping), defines the concepts and operational procedures for the Task Group to ensure maritime safety and security of seafarers, particularly foreign and local tourists in view of potential terror threat posed by extremist groups such as kidnap-for-ransom and bombings.
The Task Group met Tuesday to discuss and finalize its contingency plan as well as defining the individual roles of its member-agencies, Ramacho said.
The Task Group Maritime Safety and Security will be conducting in the coming weeks a simulation exercise (SIMEX) of different scenarios on terror attacks, such as kidnap-for-ransom, Ramacho disclosed.
The SIMEX will text the inter-operability and cooperation of the agencies involved, she said.
Ramacho further disclosed that she has already requested the deployment of a larger Coast Guard vessel to Dumaguete to beef up their current floating assets.
She assured that while they only have small aluminum boats at the moment, these are fast crafts that can travel at high speed.
The Philippine Navy has deployed two patrol boats in Negros Oriental while two Philippine Air Force helicopters are also stationed at an Army camp in Negros Oriental.
Ramacho reiterated that Negros Oriental is safe from such terror attacks but she cautions the public against being complacent and being caught off-guard.
She highlighted that security is everybody’s concern, and the community’s participation, such as information sharing with law enforcement securities and vigilance especially on the arrival and presence of suspicious persons in their areas are a big help to authorities.
The members of the Task Group Maritime Safety and Security are the Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines comprising the Philippine Army, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Maritime PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation, among others.
Also, the Task Group is also considering involving the Department of Social Welfare and Development as a member for relief and rehabilitation efforts. (PNA/ JFP)
